Post by rainman on Feb 17, 2008 7:03:11 GMT -5
Mary Lou excited about homecoming
By Mallory Panuska
Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT— When a 16-year-old Mary Lou Retton attempted to “sneak back home” to Fairmont in the summer of 1984 after winning the all-around gold medal in women’s gymnastics at the Olympics in Los Angeles, she was surprised and honored to see that virtually the entire city — and then some — were there to congratulate her.
At that moment, the Fairmont-born celebrity said she knew her life was never going to be the same.
And this summer, to mark the 24th anniversary of Retton’s first homecoming after winning the gold, the City of Fairmont is planning a celebration to relive that monumental day.
“I am so excited about it,” Retton said Friday. “I’ve been yearning and yearning and yearning to come back to West Virginia.”
For Retton’s 40th birthday, her husband, Shannon Kelley, surprised her with a new home in Fairmont, which she plans on moving to and living in full-time in the future.
Mayor Scott Sears, who has known Retton for years, said last week that he spoke with her while she was in town over the Christmas holiday, which is when he began brainstorming the details of a July 4th celebration this year.
“Basically, we’re going to have a welcome home Mary Lou Retton day,” Sears said. “With the summer Olympics this year and it being 24 years since she won the gold, we just felt it was way overdue. The city has not done anything for her in her honor, and we thought this was a more than appropriate time to celebrate.”
Sears said the city will work together with Main Street Fairmont, which typically hosts the city’s Independence Day celebration each year. He said the celebration will be held on the river at Palatine Park and will include a video production of Retton from the 1984 games as well as a parade around the city, much like the one that was held when she returned from Los Angeles.
Sears said he hopes that many of the people who attended the celebration in 1984 will be able to attend this event and relive the entire experience.
“We are going to introduce her, welcome her back to Fairmont, and recognize the day as Mary Lou Retton Day within the city,” Sears said. “It’s just going to be a fun, good old-fashioned 4th of July celebration with Fairmont’s one and only sweetheart.”
Sears said that anyone who has videotapes, pictures or anything else they would like to submit for this celebration is encouraged to bring them to the Main Street Fairmont office.
Today, Retton lives with her husband and four daughters in Houston, but she keeps a special place in her heart for the Mountain State. She said she comes back as often as she can, whether it’s during holidays or the summer, as kind of a getaway, and she loves how down-to-earth, friendly and respectful the people of Fairmont are.
Retton said that even now, 24 years after she became the first American woman to ever win a gold medal in gymnastics, she cannot leave her home in Texas without people coming up to her, wanting to talk to her and get photographs and autographs. But she said West Virginia is different. While she knows her fans love her, she said most just give her a friendly wave and let her mind her own business, which she likes.
“I really look forward to coming back to Fairmont to chill out and spend time with my family,” Retton said.
For the celebration, Retton said that she is “up for anything” and looks forward to reliving that fateful day 24 years ago when tens of thousands of people waited in Fairmont to congratulate her on her tremendous accomplishment.
“I am truly a Mountaineer at heart. I’m up for anything. I’m so excited,” Retton said. “It’s so good to be coming home. I may live in Texas at this point in my life, but I’m a true, blue West Virginia girl.”
Retton is still the only American to ever win the Olympic all-around title, which she accomplished in 1984 by just 0.05 of a point, with perfect 10s in her vault and floor exercise routines being what bumped her score up to win the gold.
By Mallory Panuska
Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT— When a 16-year-old Mary Lou Retton attempted to “sneak back home” to Fairmont in the summer of 1984 after winning the all-around gold medal in women’s gymnastics at the Olympics in Los Angeles, she was surprised and honored to see that virtually the entire city — and then some — were there to congratulate her.
At that moment, the Fairmont-born celebrity said she knew her life was never going to be the same.
And this summer, to mark the 24th anniversary of Retton’s first homecoming after winning the gold, the City of Fairmont is planning a celebration to relive that monumental day.
“I am so excited about it,” Retton said Friday. “I’ve been yearning and yearning and yearning to come back to West Virginia.”
For Retton’s 40th birthday, her husband, Shannon Kelley, surprised her with a new home in Fairmont, which she plans on moving to and living in full-time in the future.
Mayor Scott Sears, who has known Retton for years, said last week that he spoke with her while she was in town over the Christmas holiday, which is when he began brainstorming the details of a July 4th celebration this year.
“Basically, we’re going to have a welcome home Mary Lou Retton day,” Sears said. “With the summer Olympics this year and it being 24 years since she won the gold, we just felt it was way overdue. The city has not done anything for her in her honor, and we thought this was a more than appropriate time to celebrate.”
Sears said the city will work together with Main Street Fairmont, which typically hosts the city’s Independence Day celebration each year. He said the celebration will be held on the river at Palatine Park and will include a video production of Retton from the 1984 games as well as a parade around the city, much like the one that was held when she returned from Los Angeles.
Sears said he hopes that many of the people who attended the celebration in 1984 will be able to attend this event and relive the entire experience.
“We are going to introduce her, welcome her back to Fairmont, and recognize the day as Mary Lou Retton Day within the city,” Sears said. “It’s just going to be a fun, good old-fashioned 4th of July celebration with Fairmont’s one and only sweetheart.”
Sears said that anyone who has videotapes, pictures or anything else they would like to submit for this celebration is encouraged to bring them to the Main Street Fairmont office.
Today, Retton lives with her husband and four daughters in Houston, but she keeps a special place in her heart for the Mountain State. She said she comes back as often as she can, whether it’s during holidays or the summer, as kind of a getaway, and she loves how down-to-earth, friendly and respectful the people of Fairmont are.
Retton said that even now, 24 years after she became the first American woman to ever win a gold medal in gymnastics, she cannot leave her home in Texas without people coming up to her, wanting to talk to her and get photographs and autographs. But she said West Virginia is different. While she knows her fans love her, she said most just give her a friendly wave and let her mind her own business, which she likes.
“I really look forward to coming back to Fairmont to chill out and spend time with my family,” Retton said.
For the celebration, Retton said that she is “up for anything” and looks forward to reliving that fateful day 24 years ago when tens of thousands of people waited in Fairmont to congratulate her on her tremendous accomplishment.
“I am truly a Mountaineer at heart. I’m up for anything. I’m so excited,” Retton said. “It’s so good to be coming home. I may live in Texas at this point in my life, but I’m a true, blue West Virginia girl.”
Retton is still the only American to ever win the Olympic all-around title, which she accomplished in 1984 by just 0.05 of a point, with perfect 10s in her vault and floor exercise routines being what bumped her score up to win the gold.
